Grapevine

ABSTRACT

A table-wine variety of grapevine which is vigorous, semi-upright, open, hardy, foliated with medium-size, cordate leaves, and very productive on straight, medium length, medium thick canes, of medium-to-large size, medium length, broad, tapering, regular, loose-to-compact clusters having long stems; the clusters--borne two to three per cane--being short conical in form, and the berries of the clusters being ellipsoidal, strongly adherent, medium size, uniform, black with a thick blue-grey bloom, and having translucent, juicy, greenish flesh, the flesh, of good quality for wine production, being soft, tender, sub-acid, and vinous.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In contemplation of the need for improved table-wine varieties ofgrapevines, I have--in my vinyard located near Ceres, Stanislaus County,Calif.--undertaken experimental breeding of grapevines for such purpose.The present variety resulted from my endeavors in conducting suchexperimental breeding program.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of grapevine was originated by me in my aforesaidvineyard as a first generation cross of Ruby Cabernet × Barbera (bothunpatented).

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

Subsequent to its origination by me, I asexually reproduced the presentvariety of grapevine in my vineyard, located as aforesaid, by cuttingsas well as top-working, and--in maturity--such reproductions ran true tothe original grapevine in all respects.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present table-wine variety of grapevine is vigorous, semi-upright,open, hardy, foliated with medium-size, cordate leaves, and veryproductive on straight, medium length, medium thick canes, ofmedium-to-large size, medium length, broad, tapering, regular,loose-to-compact clusters having long stems; the clusters--borne two tothree per cane--being short conical in form, and the berries of theclusters being ellipsoidal, strongly adherent, medium size, uniform,black with a thick blue-grey bloom, and having translucent, juicy,greenish flesh; the flesh, of good quality for wine production, beingsoft, tender, sub-acid, and vinous.

Further, the present variety of grapevine is in harvest relatively early(i.e., medium) so that it rarely encounters rainfall. Additionally, asthe stems of the clusters are quite long, hand harvesting by pickers isfacilitated.

The present variety of grapevine has certain distinctivecharacteristics, in comparison to the Ruby Cabernet, as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                Present Variety                                                                           Ruby Cabernet                                             ______________________________________                                        VINE:     Very productive                                                                             Productive                                            TRUNK:    Medium        Large - medium                                        Bark      Adherent      Long and fissured to                                                          stringy                                               CANES:    Medium thickness                                                                            Thick                                                 Internodes                                                                              Medium length Short to medium length                                Tendrils  Medium to long                                                                              Short to medium length                                          Occasionally tri-                                                                           Bifurcated                                                      furcated      Rarely functional                                               Often functional                                                    LEAVES:                                                                       Inferior Sinus                                                                          Medium depth and                                                                            Deep                                                            width                                                                         Occasionally sinus                                                            nearly absent                                                       Superior Sinus                                                                          Medium depth and                                                                            Deep                                                            width         Occasionally toothed                                            Frequently toothed                                                  FRUIT:                                                                        Average Date            September 25 -                                        Of Ripening                                                                             September 15 - 30                                                                           October 10                                            Season    Medium        Medium to late                                        CLUSTERS: Medium to large                                                                             Small to medium                                       Average weight                                                                          554 grams     289 grams                                             Range     300 - 690 grams                                                                             225 - 305 grams                                       Average length                                                                          18 cm.        15.5 cm.                                              Average width                                                                           14.5 cm.      10.5 cm.                                                        Conical       Long conical                                                    Loose to compact                                                                            Loose to well-filled                                            Frequently winged                                                             or double-clustered                                                 PEDUNCLE:                                                                               Long - 5 - 9 cm.                                                                            Short - 1 - 4 cm.                                               Partly lignified                                                                            Often lignified                                                 Not difficult to cut                                                                        Difficult to cut                                      BRUSH:                                                                        Color     Deep wine     Deep wine to maroon                                   BERRIES:                                                                                Strongly adherent                                                                           Adherent                                                        Medium size - 2.0                                                                           Medium size - 2.73 grams                                        per berry     per berry                                                       Ellipsoidal   Round to ellipsoidal                                            Very good quality                                                                           Good quality                                          SEEDS:                                                                                  Cuneate       Cuneate                                                         Rounded       Flattened                                                       Faintly notched                                                     Beak      Medium        Short                                                           Slightly curved                                                                             Curved                                                Color     Brown         Light brown, with yellow-                                                     ish green tinge                                       Raphe     Medium        Obscure                                               Chalaza   Centrally located                                                                           Centrally located                                               to below center                                                                             Slightly sunken                                                 Elongated                                                                     Sunken                                                              ______________________________________                                    

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing is an illustration, by photographic reproduction in color,of grape clusters, and leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The botanical details of this new and distinct variety ofgrapevine--with color definitions (except those in common color terms)referenced to Maerz and Paul Dictionary of Color--are as follows:

Vine:

Vigor.--Vigorous.

Growth.--Semi-upright.

Density.--Open.

Hardiness.--Hardy.

Productivity.--Very productive.

Trunk: Medium size. Medium caliber.

Bark.--Adherent. Shreddy.

Canes: Medium length. Medium number. Medium thickness. Tannish brown(14-j-10). Straight.

Nodes.--Angular.

Internodes.--Medium length.

Tendrils.--Intermittent. Medium thickness. Medium to long. Bifurcated.Occasionally trifurcated. Often functional. Smooth.

Flowers: Fertile.

Blooming Period.--Medium--May 15-May 30.

Stamens.--Upright.

Leaves: Medium size. W × L = 254.0 sq. cm. W/L ratio 1.37. Cordate.Medium.

Color.--Upper Surface--Glossy dark green (24-L-8). Lower Surface--Palegreen (22-J-7).

texture.--Medium.

Pubescence.--Very short, fine hairs on veins. Fine, interlacing hairs ininterveinal areas.

Lobes.--Number--5. Terminal Lobe--Acuminate--frequently obtuse.

Petiolar Sinus.--Deep. Frequently toothed. Narrow to closed. Oftenoverlapping.

Inferior Sinus.--Medium depth. Medium width. Frequently toothed.

Superior Sinus.--Medium depth. Medium width. Frequently toothed.

Margin.--Dentate.

Teeth.--Medium depth. Medium width.

Fruit:

Date of Ripening.--September 15-30 depending on seasonal conditions.

Season.--Medium.

Keeping Quality.--Good.

Shipping Quality.--Good.

Cluster.--Medium to large size. 2 - 3 per cane. Weight percluster--300-690 grams. Medium length--average 18 cm.Broad--average--14.5 cm. Tapering. Short conical. Regular.Shouldered--frequently winged or double-clustered. Loose to compact.

Peduncle.--Long--6-9 cm. Medium thickness.

Pedicel.--Medium length. Medium thickness. Warts.

Brush.--Medium length--5 mm. Wine color.

Berries.--Strongly adherent. Medium size--205.5 grams per 100 berries.Uniform. Ellipsoidal.

Color.--Black to deep bluish purple (48-A-12), with thick blue-greybloom (37-F-4).

skin.--Thick. Tough. Adheres to pulp.

Flesh.--Greenish. Translucent. Soft. Juicy. Vinous. Quality--very good.

Test Averages.--Sugar Content (Balling)--22.7. Total Acid (Grams per 100cc.)--1.09. pH--3.34. The berries of the present variety attain adesirable sugar content without lowering the acid or raising the pHexcessively; these factors being most favorable in a table-wine varietyof grapevine. The wines made from this grape score very highly in thetastings conducted by expert wine tasters.

Seeds.--Separate from pulp with difficulty. Average number--226 per 100berries. Medium size. Medium length. Medium breadth. Cuneate.Weight--2.74 grams per 100 seeds. Rounded--lower end rounded, faintly,notched. Beaked--medium size, slightly curved. Brown (8-C-12).

raphe.--Medium.

Chalaza.--Medium to below center. Oval, or ellipsoidal elongated.Distinct. Sunken.

Use.--Table wine.

The grapevine and its fruit herein described may vary in slight detaildue to climatic and soil conditions under which the variety may begrown; the present description being of the variety as grown in theCentral Valley of California.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct table-wine variety of grapevine,substantially as illustrated and described, which is vigorous,semi-upright, open, hardy, foliated with medium-size, cordate leaves,and very productive on straight, medium length, medium thick canes, ofmedium-to-large size, medium length, broad, tapering, reguoar,loose-to-compact clusters having long stems; the clusters--borne two tothree per cane--being short conical in form, and the berries of theclusters being ellipsoidal, strongly adherent, medium size, uniform,black with a thick blue-grey bloom, and having translucent, juicy,greenish flesh, the flesh, of good quality for wine production, beingsoft, tender, sub-acid, and vinous; the variety being more productive,with larger clusters, and ripening earlier than the Ruby Cabernet.